Bacevich in @TheAtlantic
"And so it went, year after year, as the U. S. military learned to deceive itself. In so doing, of course, it also deceived Congress and a gullible public."
A "gullible public" that had no appetite for anything but stories of victory and glory. /1
"And so it went, year after year, as the U. S. military learned to deceive itself. In so doing, of course, it also deceived Congress and a gullible public."
A "gullible public" that had no appetite for anything but stories of victory and glory. /1
Have to love the idea that if Bush or Obama or even Trump really leveled with the American people and said: "Look, you wanted a zero-risk world, and you castigate any notion of leaving AFG as cowardice. Make a choice: (a) Long-term, full occupation, or (b) pull out and risk." /2
Of course, the public wanted "Full security, no risk, and no long deployment. Also, no costs, no draft, no buzzkill talk about terrorism. Go fix it. Send in the volunteers. We're going to the mall. Just make sure there's no more 9/11s."
/3
/3
And now, 18 years later, we're all just shocked that our elected representatives did *exactly what we wanted*, treating us like children who can't handle complexity - because we are, in the main, a society of children who can't handle complexity. /4
And now we have Bacevich - to his credit, a consistent opponent of the war - "whatabouting" us about Bush, as if Bush didn't have the support of a public - one that didn't really care one way or the other and to this day, unless they're in the service, can't find AFG on a map. /5
The war in 2001 was justified and necessary. President Gore would have done it. But 18 years later? Just like the Patriot Act and DHS and the TSA and all the other bad ideas after 9/11, we're there because the public wants zero risk and won't decide to be in or be out. /6
But sure, blame Bush and Obama and Trump, and the generals and everyone else.
Easier than looking in a mirror. /7x
Easier than looking in a mirror. /7x
